PA Venue Spotlight: Terrain
Hi everyone!
I hope you are all doing well. Last week I had the pleasure of hosting an Instagram live with Brianna Alcorn, Director of Events at Terrain. In case you missed it, the live is available to view here or you can read below for some highlights about Terrain’s PA venues and to see some of the amazing weddings they’ve hosted! Keep reading for some of the key points and fun facts about their venues.
Photo: Lauren Fair Photography
Florals: A Cottage Gardener
Locations: Glen Mills, PA (Flagship) & Devon, PA
When did the events business start? In 2008, Terrain opened as a retail space and shortly after the cafe was opened. 7 years ago, the event business started with a simple request as couples began to ask that the space be available for weddings. Since then, the venues have transitioned over time and have grown and evolved. Being backed by their parent company, URBN, affords Terrain a creative pool of talent and resources to work with and make the properties unique.
Photo: Bianca Tang Photography
Why do couples love Terrain? One of the reasons couples gravitate towards Terrain’s venues is because they change with the seasons. In the winter you can find holiday trees, twinkling lights, and a fire pit. The spring is colorful, the summer features greenery, and then the venue transitions to muted tones in the fall. Many couples who tour the venue have a season in mind for their wedding but quickly realize how many options there are when choosing a wedding date.
Another element unique to Terrain is the beautiful backdrops in their spaces that merge with the horticultural nature of the locations. Terrain is also a one-stop-shop because it is not only a venue, but the culinary aspects, decor, and floral design can all be provided by Terrain. The culinary side of things is made even better with ingredients sourced by local farmers and seasonal menus, which is exciting not only for the couples getting married, but for Terrain’s passionate group of employees as well, who believe that life’s moments deserve to be celebrated.
Does Terrain host other events besides weddings? Yes! They are known for their weddings (and not just on the weekends), but they also host graduations, engagement parties, showers, and corporate events as well. The spaces aren’t a blank slate, but can be transformed depending on the occasion.
Photo: Snapped Studios
Does Terrain offer outdoor and indoor spaces and do couples have flexibility when it comes to where they would like to host their cocktail hour, dinner, etc? Terrain is always up for a good challenge when it comes to hosting a wedding. There are outdoor ceremony areas, indoor options (which are great for rain plans), and the dinner service is generally inside. During COVID, the receptions are outside in covered areas. Even after COVID when the mandates are lifted, Brianna believes couples may still want to host outdoor events.
Is Terrain geared more towards smaller events or do they host larger events as well? Terrain does a little bit of everything! The Devon location has a capacity of 140, while the Glen Mills location can seat up to 110, but they also have options for petite weddings under 30 guests or more intimate gatherings around 50. The venues aren’t massive in size so they don’t feel overwhelming. Terrain has built their venues strategically, especially the one in Devon, to be intimate. Intimate celebrations are here to stay and are something Terrain has done and will continue to do.
What is the Design by Terrain team? In terms of what is already included, the venues themselves are beautifully set with farm tables, cross-back chairs, votives, silverware, and napkins with a Terrain touch so that the venues feel as inclusive as possible. The aesthetics are nailed down to a T! These elements are typically expensive to rent if you are at a venue that doesn’t provide them. If you opt to work with the Design by Terrain team, they will take your vision for the day and transform the space. They cover everything from tabletop floral to installations to place cards to tapestries. This service is especially great for couples who are out of state and aren’t able to travel back and forth for multiple appointments. It allows the couple to get the full Terrain experience and lean on the decor that is already around the space and in the retail stores. You don’t have to add a ton to Terrain’s gorgeous spaces, but you can make it your own and do something elaborate if you wish!
Photo: Bianca Tang Photography
What kind of cuisine does Terrain excel at and what options are there? Terrain prides themselves on their local and seasonal menus. They come up with a spring/summer and fall/winter menu with their teams and combine what is inspiring the culinary team with the trends that local farmers are seeing. They constantly challenge themselves by asking what works for weddings, what their guests want to see, and then adding some fun twists to wedding classics. The chefs come from diverse backgrounds and work to think outside of the box and provide something that isn’t so typical. The team at Terrain strives to make it feel as though you are coming to their home and they are entertaining you. They are very flexible with their serving style as well, offering entrees that can be served family style or plated. The dessert displays are also lovely and include the option of a s’mores by the fire display, which creates community and is great to break up the night (not to mention totally delicious).
Photo: When We Dance Photo
How have you been dealing with COVID? Brianna pointed out that while it’s been a roller coaster for both wedding industry professionals and couples, the wedding industry has been born to solve problems. The team at Terrain learned how to pivot and find a way to work with couples on planning their ideal weddings and making them happen in a safe way within the appropriate guidelines. They’ve put together many options for their couples and welcome new couples who are looking for a fast alternative, whether it’s just a ceremony or a petite wedding. Many couples chose to move their wedding to next year, while others are still going to have their events this year. COVID didn’t make Terrain rethink the wheel on intimate events since they are accustomed to hosting them, which is reassuring for couples who are trying to navigate this time.
What do you think couples can expect for 2021 and 2022 and have you seen any other trends be born out of this time? Brianna points out that intimate weddings are here to stay, but some couples will also still want a larger event. She believes that couples who are getting married in 2021 should hold true to their visions and not compromise unless there is a mandate to limit size. She believes that hiring reliable and trustworthy vendors is key and allows for the day to go smoothly.
Photo: Sarah Brookhart
Floral design: Faye and Renee
Do you have a list of vendors that you can recommend to couples? Yes! But Brianna points out that you should definitely find vendors you connect with in the aspects of personality and aesthetics. The team at Terrain works to connect with each couple and really build a relationship that lasts long after the wedding day has come and gone. Of course, looking into vendors that your venue recommends is also great because those vendors understand the space and have worked there before. On the other hand, there is so much talent out there and many vendors are willing to do their homework on the venue.
Fun facts: The location at Devon, PA also has an Anthropologie/BHLDN onsite, so you could go for a wedding dress appointment or bridesmaid gown appointment and then have lunch at Terrain’s cafe after! The cafe is also the perfect spot for an anniversary dinner if you get married at Terrain, and the store itself has beautiful home items to decorate your space. Brianna highlighted that one of the best parts of the venue is that you can come back the next day or year after year and still relish your wedding day experience. I’ve been to the cafe and the food is so delicious and fresh! I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good meal and beautiful atmosphere.
The bridal suite at the Glenn Mills location, which is called the Mushroom House, is actually a historic building on the property.
Photo: Colleen Stepanian
I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about Terrain’s stunning venues in PA. For any couple looking to learn more about hosting their event at Terrain, you can click here to book a tour or inquire about dates for this year or next year. And make sure to check out their Instagram here.
A huge thank you again to Brianna for taking the time to to go live with me! And stay tuned everyone for a round 2 with Terrain! Have a great rest of your week.
Hero image by: Snapped Studios
